Steam-engine.



J. E. RANKIN.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 9, 191a. Pa p 7, 1914 1,092,226 SHEETS-SHEET 1 gwuwntoz JERANKIN LDLUMDIA Pl-ANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

(LB. RANKIN.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1913.

1,092,226. Patented Apr. '7, 1914.

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J. E. RANKIN.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7, 191 i a 3; m I

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JAMES E. RANKIN, 0F FULTON, KENTUCKY.

STEAIM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 9, 1913. Serial No. 778,149.

Patented Apr. '7, 1.914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. RANKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fulton, in the county of Fulton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs.

This invention comprehends certainnew and useful improvements in steam engines and has for its primary object to provide an improved form of valve and valve controlling mechanism for steam engines.

Another object is to provide an improved form of valve and valve operating and controlling mechanism and improved and novel connections between the valve and the power shaft.

A further object is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of steam engines and increase the efficiency of the same.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the complete engine; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cylinder and parts positioned therein; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the cylinder, at right angles to Fig. 8, showing the valve in longitudinal section and the parts carried upon the reduced projecting valve stem in elevation; Fig. 5 is a detail elevational view of the mechanism for catching the valve and holding the same in open position and the trip mechanism for the catch mechanism; and Fig. 6 is a detail cross-sectional view through the valve stem, showing in detail the means mounted upon the stem for raising one of the suction disks of the dash pots. Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the parts of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding and like parts throughout the several views, 1 designates the valve stem with which the valve 2 is formed and which stem has one end reduced and extended with the disk 3 mounted thereon, outwardly of the cylinder 4 within which the piston 5 reciprocates. It will be understood that the outer end of the piston rod 5 is pivoted to one'end of the pitman arm 6, the opposite end of which is mounted on the eccentric pin 7 projecting from the disk 8 carried upon one end of the power shaft 9 upon the opposite end of which is mounted the fly wheel 10.

The power shaft 9 is mounted in suitable bearings 11, one of which is mounted upon a bed plate 12- having the flanges 13 projecting upwardly from its edge, two of which carry the set screws 14, said set screws 14 being preferably carried by opposite flanges. The bearing member 11 is secured upon the bed plate 12 by the bolts 15 and as the bed plate 12 is larger than the bearing member 11, it will be apparent that the bearing member 11 may be readily adjusted upon the bed plate and secured in position by the bolts 15 and set screws 14, said set screws 14 hearing against opposite sides of the bearing member 11. It will also be understood that the power shaft 9 is provided with collars or flanges 16 upon opposite sides of the other bearing member 11 secured upon the supporting base 17, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the shaft 9 within the bearing members. The first hearing member 11 is mounted upon the bed plate 12 in the manner just described for the purpose of properly adjusting the position of the power shaft 9 in relation to the other parts of the engine, as will be clearly apparent. It will also be understood that the other bearing member 11 for the power shaft 9, and the bed plate 12 are secured upon a suitable supporting base 17. I have also mounted a rock arm 18 upon the valve stem 1 to the lower end of which is pivoted the sectional oscillating transmission arm 19 which may be readily adjusted. by the turnbuckle 20 connecting the sections thereof and which has its opposite end extended through the rocking link 21 and which carries the lat erally projecting pin 22 projecting through the curved longitudinally extending slot 23 in the outer side of the link 21. The link 21 has the rock pin 24 projecting laterally from the center of the opposite side thereof and mounted in the upper end of the bearing post 25 projecting upwardly from the base 17 Clamped upon the free end of the rock pin 24 is the upper end of the rock lever 26 which has its lower end pivoted to one end of the connecting rod 27, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the free end of the opl drawings, that each stop or catch arm 41 erating arm 28 which has its opposite end mounted upon the pin 7 as clearly shown in the drawings. The connecting rod 27 is preferably formed in two or more sections connected by a connecting sleeve or turnbuckle 29, by means of which the length of the rod 27 may be readily adjusted. Mounted in the upper end of the rock arm 18 is the laterally directed pin 30 upon which are loosely mounted the releasingmembers 31, upon opposite sides of the disk 3. Each member 31 has its lower end concaved, asshown at 32, and engaged over a cam-shaped memberv 33 loosely mountedupon the valve stem 1 and'also positioned upon opposite sides of the disk 3, which, as previously mentioned, isrigidly mounted upon the stem 1. From the lower or wide portion ofeach cam member 33, depends an arm 34, to the lower extremity of which is pivoted one end ofa trip rod 35, the opposite end of the trip rod being pivoted to one end of the rock arm 74.

"The, rock arm74 is pivoted upon the pin 75. carried in the free upper end of the bracket arm 76 of the bracket support 77, within the upper vertical sleeve portion 78 of which is mounted the shaft 79 of the speed regulating governor 80. A lateral. arm 81 projects from the center of the rock arm 74 and has its free end connected with the lower end of the governor shaft 79, as shown at 82. The bevel gear 83 mounted upon the governor shaft 7 9is in mesh with the. bevel gear 84 on the shaft 85 which may be connected in any suitable manner tothe main shaft of the engine. It will be understood. that the bracket 77 has an offset portion 86 to accommodate. the bevel gears 8 3.and 84, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. It will also be understood that as the trip rods 35 are. connected to the opposite ends of the rock arm 74, the depending arms 34 will. be moved in opposite directions upon operation of said rock arm. Each of the cam members 33 has a cam lug33 upon its periphery and said lugs areto opposite sides of the respective depending arms 34, thereby properly engaging the concaved lower ends 32, of the releasing members 31 torock said releasing members 31 and thereby disengage the stop arms 41 from the shoulders 40 at the ends of the cut-away portion 39 of the disk 3.

By referring to the drawings it will be readily seen that the disk 3 has a portion 39, thereof cutaway to rovide the shoulders 40, previously mentioned, for engagement by the curved. arms 41 of the releasing members 31, it being understood that each releasing member 31 has a curved arm 41.

formed integral with its upper end and offsetfrom the same, the stop or catch arms 41 being extended in opposite directions.

It will further be seen by referring to the,

has a plate 42 secured to its free end and formed of any suitable hardened material, while similar plates 43 are secured against the shoulders 40, and are preferably reversed, thereby eliminating the necessity of frequently replacing the plates by new ones. Itwill also be evident that as each trip rod 45 is formed in two sections connected by the turnbuckle 38, the length of the trip rods may be readily adjusted by turning the buckles 38 in the proper direction.

I have also provided a collar 44 secured upon the valve stem 1 by the set screw 45 and having the radially directed depending lug 52 To either side of the collar 44 and upon the valve stem 1 is a collar 46 having a laterally directed lug 46 and an outwardly directed arm 47, to the outer end of which is pivoted the upper end of a rod 48 having a disk 49 upon its lower end which is engaged in a suction cup 50, Each arm 48 is preferably formed in sections connected by the sleeve 51, whereby the length of the rod may be readily adjusted. It will be understood that the arms 47 extend in op posite directions from the valve stem 1 and that the collar 44 has the lug 52 projecting therefrom for engagement at times with the.

lateral lugs 46 of the collars 46 to raise the arms 48 and suction disks 49.

The cylinder 4 has the piston bore 53 within which the piston 5 reciprocates, said bore 53 being in the lower portionof the cylinder and having the vertical steam passages 54 and 55 at the forward and rear ends respectively of the cylinder, the lower ends of said passages connecting with the piston bore 53, while the upper ends thereof connect with the steam chamber 56 formed in the upper portion ofthe cylinder. The valve 2 is positioned transversely in the steam chamber 56 and has the'opposite steam passages 57 and 58 extending practically from end to end of said valve. The valve 2 is adapted to rotate in the valve casing 59 which is seated partly in the recess formed therefor in the lower wall of the steam chamber 56 and partly in the re-. cess formed in the under face of the cylinder cap 60 which latter carries the steam inlet pipe 61, at the lower end of which is the elongated steam passage 62 which registers with the upper elongated steam passage 63 of the valve casing 59, it being understood that the valve casing has foursuch passages spaced at equal distances from one another, the lower of said passages registering with the downwardly extending steam passage way 64 which connects with the steam exhaust or outlet port 65, with one end of which is connected the exhaust steam or outlet pipe 66. It will be seen, by-referring to the drawings, that the steam exhaust port 65 is directly beneath the valve 2 and abWFt-he aisteinbore 53. The side steam passages 63 of the valve easin se open into the steam chamber 56 to either side of the valve 2. Vhen the valve is in one position, the steam passage 57 thereof connects the steam passage 62 with the forward end of the steam chamber 56 while the steam passage 58 of the valve 2 connects the rear end of the steam chamber 56 with the downwardly extending exhaust passage 64, thereby allowing a fresh supply of steam to enter the forward end of the chamber 56 from the steam inlet pipe 61 and travel down the steam passages 54 to the forward end of the piston bore 53 to force the piston forwardly while the dead charge of steam within the opposite end of the bore 53 finds an escape through the steam passage 55, the rear end of the steam chamber 56, the steam passage 58, and the steam passage 64 to the exhaust port 65, from whence it escapes by means of the exhaust steam or outlet pipe 66. When the steam passage 58 of the valve 2 connects the steam passage 62 and the rear end of the steam chamber 56, the steam passage 57 will connect the forward end of the steam chamber 56 and the steam passage 64 and the operation will be reversed. It will be evident that when the solid portions of the valve 2 are opposite the steam passages 62 and 64, these passages will be closed.

Upon the base 17 I have secured a bracket 67 to which is pivoted the bell crank lift arm 68 to the free end of the upper arm of which is pivoted one end of the reverse rod 69 which has its opposite end connected to the reverse lever 70 to operate the same.

The connecting rod 71 has its lower end pivoted to the other arm of the bell crank lift arm while the upper end of the connecting rod is pivoted between the ears of the split collar 72 which is clamped upon the transmission arm 19, whereby operation of the reverse lever will cause upward movement of the transmission arm 19, as will be clearly understood, and operation of the engine thereby reversed.

It will be understood that the valve casing 59 is open at its inner end and closed at its outer end by the plate 87 through which the reduced valve stem 1 projects and that the closed end is extended to form a flange engaged against the outer face of the cylinder, thereby forming a steam tight joint. It will also be understood that the valve casing 59 is stationary and that the opposite ends of the valve 2 are of circular form and fit snugly within the opposite ends of the casing while the main portion of the valve is cut away or flattened upon its opposite sides to form the steam passages 57 and 58, previously mentioned. Longitudinal movement of the valve 2 within the casing 59 is prevented by means of the adjusting screw 73 threaded in one wall of the cylinder 4 and against the end of the valve 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The plate 87 is secured against the outer face of the cylinder 4 by the bolts 88 or other suitable means.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the same.

VVhat- I claim is 1. The combination in a steam engine valve gear, of a rotary valve stem, a valve carried by said Valve stem, a rock arm mounted on the valve stem, a disk mounted on the Valve stem and having shoulders formed on its periphery, a laterally directed pin mounted in the rock arm, releasing members mounted on said pin, oppositely directed curved arms carried by the releasing members and adapted to be positioned in the paths of the shoulders on the disk, depending arms mounted on the valve stem and having cam members formed on one end for engagement with the lower ends of the releasing members to actuate the latter, means for controlling movement of the depending arms, means for operating the rock arm to rotate the valve and valve stem in alternate directions, and means for returning the valve to normal position.

2. The combination in a steam engine valve gear, of a rotary valve stem, a valve carried by said valve stem, a rock arm mounted on the valve stem, a disk mounted on the valve stem and having shoulders formed on its periphery, a laterally directed pin mounted in the rock arm, releasing members mounted on said pin, curved arms carried by the releasing members and adapted to be positioned in the paths of the shoulders on the disk, said releasing members having concaved lower ends, depending arms mounted on the valve stem and having cam members formed on their upper ends for engagement with the concaved lower ends of the releasing members to actuate the latter, means connected with the depending arms for controlling movement of the same, means connected with the rock arm for operating the latter to rotate the valve and valve stem in alternate directions, and means for returning the valve to normal position.

3. In a steam engine valve gear, the combination of a rotary valve stem, a valve carried by said valve stem, a rock arm mounted on the valve stem, a disk mounted on the valve stem and having projections formed on its periphery, a pin mounted in one end of the rock arm, releasing members mounted on said pin, oppositely directed arms carried by the releasing members and adapted to be positioned in the paths of the proj ections on the disk, said releasing members having concave lower ends, depending arms mounted on the valve stem and having cam members formed thereon for engagement with the concave lower ends of the releasing members to actuate the latter, means for to controlling movement of the depending arms, means for operating the rock arm to rotate the valve angLvalve s'tem in alternate directions, and means for returning the valve to normal position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JAMES E. RANKIN. Witnesses:

ARCH GORE, J. F. RoYs'rER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C. 

